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Anderson Origin and Immigration

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Anderson Surname Distribution
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Origin: ANDERSON, a surname meaning literally the son of Andrew, but as held by families of Lowland origin, denoting more properly a son of St. Andrew, that is, a native Scotsman, as indicated by the Cross of St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland, in their shield. The Mid Lothian Andersons, to one branch of which belongs the family of the author of this work, have for crest a crosslet above the crescent; motto, "Gradatiml" The crest evidently has reference to the crusades.

The Gaelic sept of Anderson are said to be on offshoot of the old potent stem of Clan Anrias, from which spring the Mac Andrews, the Mac Gilanders, and the Gillanderses (Skene, vol. ii. p.228). The chief of the sept is Anderson of Candacraig, Aberdeenshire.
Surnames: Anderson
Submitted by: DP